How to find out where someone is buried

Start with the obituary

An obituary is often the quickest way to learn where someone is buried. Many include a line near the end about the service, such as interment will follow at a named cemetery, or burial will be private at a family plot. Some mention a church cemetery, a mausoleum or a national cemetery for veterans.

Read the notice closely, including the parts about visitation and the service. If the obituary says the burial will take place at a later date, the cemetery may not be named at all, and you will need another source.

If you have not found the obituary yet, our guide on how to find an obituary online explains where to search. For older deaths, how to find old obituaries covers archives and libraries.

Ask the funeral home

The funeral home that cared for the person will have a record of where they were buried or where the remains were taken. The name of the funeral home is usually printed on the obituary or on the page that hosts it.

A short, polite call or email is often enough. Explain who you are and why you are asking, for example that you knew the person and would like to visit. Staff may not share every detail, but many are happy to tell you the name of the cemetery.

For older burials, the original funeral home may have closed or merged with another. Its records often passed to the business that took it over, so it is worth asking the funeral homes still operating in that town.

Contact the cemetery office

Once you know the cemetery, its office can usually point you to the exact spot. Most cemeteries keep burial records with the name, date of burial and the section, row and plot number. Larger cemeteries may have a map, a search kiosk or an online lookup.

• Call ahead with the full name and an approximate date of death.
• Ask for the section and plot number, and whether there is a marker.
• Ask if they can give you a map or walk you to the grave if it is hard to find.
• Check visiting hours, since some cemeteries close the gates in the evening.

Small church or family cemeteries may not have an office. In that case, the church, a local historical society or the town clerk may hold the records.

Search volunteer grave websites

Websites such as Find a Grave and BillionGraves let volunteers photograph headstones and add them to a searchable list. You can search by name, and often by cemetery, town or years of birth and death. Many listings include a photo of the stone, which can confirm dates and show family members buried nearby.

These sites are very helpful but not complete. They depend on volunteers, so some cemeteries are well covered and others barely at all. Recent graves may not be added for a long time, and mistakes do happen. Use what you find as a strong lead and confirm it with the cemetery if you plan to visit.

If the person was a veteran

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a free Nationwide Gravesite Locator on its website. It covers veterans and family members buried in VA national cemeteries, many state veterans cemeteries and some other cemeteries where the grave has a government headstone or marker.

Search with the full name and, if you know them, the dates of birth and death. Results usually show the cemetery name, address and the grave’s location within it. The obituary may also mention military service, a flag presentation or military honors, which can hint at a veterans cemetery.

Other records, and when there is no grave

The death certificate records how the body was handled, such as burial, cremation or entombment, and usually names the cemetery or crematory. If you can get a copy, it can settle the question. Our guide on how to get a copy of a death certificate explains who can order one.

Remember that not everyone has a grave. After cremation, the family may keep the ashes at home, scatter them or place them in a columbarium, a wall of small niches often found at cemeteries and churches. In those cases the funeral home or family is the best source, and they may prefer to keep the details private.

• Church records can list burials in the church cemetery.
• Local libraries and genealogy groups often hold indexes of older cemeteries.
• County or town offices sometimes keep burial permits.

Planning a visit

Before you travel, confirm the location with the cemetery and ask about any rules on flowers, decorations or photos. Bring the section and plot number, and allow some time, since older sections can be hard to walk.

If you are still waiting to learn about a death, and so where the burial will be, an obituary monitoring service like The Passings can email you when a notice is published. That notice often includes the service and burial details you need.